I finished reading David B. Coe's Eagle-Sage this morning. Once again, it is a testimony to how good this entire trilogy truly is, considering that I wrote my last review last Thursday. That I read the whole series in so short a span of time says a lot about its overall quality. As a matter of fact, I don't have as much time as I would like to read. To go through those 3 volumes in about 3 weeks means that this one was indeed special!:-)

Following my review of The Outlanders, Mr. Coe responded that he was curious to see what I would think of the trilogy's last installment. Just the fact that he took the time to actually write me a note was quite something, I have to admit. Of course, it helps when the reviews are so good!;-) And he did respond to my review of Children of Amarid as well. In any event, it seems that the ending engendered some mixed emotions among readers. So I was eager to finish the series, in order to find out what the author meant by that.

Once again, all the elements that made the previous volumes so enjoyable are present in the final chapter of The LonTobyn Chronicle. The characterizations remain Coe's bread and butter, and once more he doesn't disappoint. The prose in this book is also up to the standard established by its predecessors.

Eagle-Sage begins 7 years following Orris' adventures in Lon-Ser. In Tobyn-Ser, commerce with the land across the sea has brought many changes to the land and its people, not all of them good. The conflict between the Children of Amarid and the League continues to escalate, and the rift between the two orders of mages continues to grow. So much so that free mages have now appeared -- mages who want to have nothing to do with the bickering of both orders. Concentrating on the protection of the land, they are part of the People's Movement.

As the title of the novel implies, Jaryd binds to an eagle, becoming the first Eagle-Sage in centuries. But the Gods only send an eagle when war is brewing, or so the prophecy claims. A Gathering is called in Amarid, so that the Order can discuss what could possibly be coming. But to Jaryd and Alayna's dismay, they discover that Cailin has also become bonded to an eagle, becoming Eagle-Master of the League. Erland, regardless of that powerful omen, seeks to retain his position of First Master. As they meet to discuss the portent presaged by the presence of two eagles, Jaryd and Cailin realize that the menace they will face will be dire beyond belief. And that if the people of Tobyn-Ser are to survive the atrocities to come, both the Order and the League will have to work together.

In Lon-Ser, Melyor, now Sovereign of Bragor-Nal, struggles to bring peace. But in a land with a history of violence, that state of affairs doesn't please everyone. And the fact that she is now Bearer of the Stone and doesn't hide her Gildriite heritage ensures that enemies are prepared to do anything to kill her. Traitors await her at every turn, even among her most trusted allies, bidding their time to somehow put someone else in her position.

The tale was a great read. I saw that many readers didn't like the fact that the action took place in two different lands, which sort of influenced the pace of the book. Even if I tend to agree, it was a necessary evil. There was no way to tell the story without splitting the action between Tobyn-Ser and Lon-Ser. I think that Coe rose up to the challenge and did an incredible job. The change of pace, although not seemless, did not take anything away from the story. Of course, there was a lot more action in the Nals, but that's the way their society works. Overall, I believe that the author did a very good job. Taking the readers through two seperate tales that have repercussions on one another is not easy, but Mr. Coe managed to do it brilliantly.

One of the only negative things I can say about Eagle-Sage is that the ending was a bit rushed. After such a build-up, that was a bit of a let-down. Not the ending itself, mind you, just the fact that it took a while for the readers to get there, and all of a sudden it's over. I would have liked for the final day and the confrontation to be a lot more detailed. And although it is a negative, it doesn't take anything away from the novel. At least in my eyes.

Another thing which seems to have put off some readers is that fact that there is no clear ending to the series. No Perry Mason scene in which all is revealed, no "they lived happily ever after" kind of thing, etc. Mr. Coe left a lot of things out in the open, left some things to the readers' imaginations. But more importantly, he left the door open for a possible sequel. I've checked his website and realized that he has no plans or intentions to ever write a sequel, at least not at this time. He claims that he wanted to write this trilogy, and end it once that story had been told. Hmmm, if only writers like Terry Goodkind could ever share that feeling!!!;-) That's commendable, and I salute Coe's integrity. But on a marketing standpoint, it is only natural for an author to do such a thing, namely not burning any bridges. If there is another story to tell and the author feels the desire to do so, he can always return to the universe which was his first work. Remember that Tad Williams ended Memory, Sorrow and Thorn in much the same way, with a prophecy that promises a lot more to come, but has yet to return to the universe that made him a New York Times bestselling author. Hopefully one day he will, as will Mr. Coe! But more than that, such an ending shows that their worlds are alive and that the possibilities are nearly endless. Just like ours, their worlds are not static. When WWII ended, we did not all live happily ever after. Life goes on, as the saying goes. Which is why I have absolutely no problem with the way this book ended. It brought a great series to a satisfying conclusion, with the promise that more could possibly be coming in the future. I can certainly live with that!

My only complaint, as was the case with Children of Amarid, is the fact that we never discover just how Sartol came into power, unbeknownst to the rest of the Order. Nor is there any clue as to how he came across the knowledge that he could make the Summoning Stone his. I'm always the one asking how and why, so to be left in the dark concerning this was sort of a disappointment for me. But other than that, this trilogy was a wonderful read.

In light of all this, I recommend this series to all fantasy fans out there. And if David B. Coe's lives up to the promise that this trilogy has generated, I'm persuaded that he will go a long way. With such a distinctive voice, I think that we will appreciate his work for many years to come.

Final verdict: The LonTobyn Chronicle deserves 9/10. And now that I've read the whole thing, I can say without reservations that this trilogy is a great addition to any fantasy collection!

Ever since I was appointed the unofficial person in charge of deciding which book would be recommended by my local W. H. Smith (unofficial because I never actually worked there), inevitably people would ask me what were my favourite fantasy series. So included here are some of the very best, at least according to Yours Truly!;-)

As always, this is a very subjective exercice, so feel free to agree or disagree. I won't mind.:-) Af ter all, these are my personal favourites!

Having said that, I do believe that no one can themselves fantasy book aficionados and not have read them. All these series should be part of any fantasy collection. And if one doesn't actually own them, one definitely must have read them. . .:-)

As the title implies, there will be more of these posts. So please don't mind if such and such series is currently missing from this list. There is more to come!

*** If someone, somewhere, somehow, writes something that surpasses The Wheel of Time in vision, in scope, in characterizations and in overall quality, I just wish to be alive to have the chance to read it. But like Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, I am convinced that people will be reading and enjoying this epic fantasy tale long after Jordan has passed away. . . And he's not even done yet!

- Guardians of the West (1987)
- King of the Murgos (1988)
- Demon Lord of Karanda (1988)
- Sorceress of Darshiva (1989)
- The Seeress of Kell

*** I should be writing a post on this bestselling author's fall from grace in the near future. Regardless of that state of affairs, I still consider these 10 books to be what is probably the 80s definitive work of fantasy fiction. A must. . .

THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT THE UNBELIEVER by Stephen R. Donaldson

- Lord Foul's Bane (1977)
- The Illearth War (1977)
- The Power that Preserves (1978)

The Histories of King Kelson- The Bishop's Heir (1984)
- The King's Justice (1985)
- The Quest for Saint Camber (1986)

The Heirs of Saint Camber- The Harrowing of Gwynedd (1989)
- King Javan's Year (1992)
- The Bastard Prince (1994)

- King Kelson's Bride (2000)

- In the King's Service (2004)

*** Those who feel the need to put a label on everything had to come up with a new term for Mrs. Kurtz's wonderful saga: Historical fantasy. As an historian, she has an eye for detail that makes her books quite different from anything else and, by the same token, extremely special. How she managed to end up on the New York Times' Bestseller List only once is an enigma to which I have no answer. Even after 35 years, Katherine Kurtz remains one of the fantasy genre's best kept secrets. And just like fine wine, she only gets better with time!;-)

*** God knows that this duo has created several memorable novels and series. But the Death Gate Cycle was their most ambitious and original project ever. Regardless of the anti-climatic ending of this seven-book series, the sheer scope of the undertaking is still mind-boggling. Hence, this series remains one of my all-time favourites!:-)

THE HERITAGE OF SHANNARA by Terry Brooks

- The Scions of Shannara (1990)
- The Druid of Shannara (1991)
- The Elf Queen of Shannara (1992)
- The Talismans of Shannara (1993)

*** Brooks has been writing Shannara novels since 1977. And who can blame him, really? With 22 New York Times Bestsellers, no one in the fantasy genre has ever appeared more often on the prestigious list. While some are good and some are less so, The Heritage of Shannara series is probably Brooks at his very best. . .

*** Feist always manages to create an engaging cast of characters, and the world of Midkemia has proved to be fertile grounds for various adventures for more than 20 years now. Probably the most consistant fantasy writer in the world, meaning that everything he writes is always good. He never attempted to re-invent the wheel; he just sticks to writing good novels. But his first series remains his best effort. . .

*** A bit long-winded, but magical all the same.:-) In the last volume, Williams left the door open for a possible sequel. Hopefully one day we'll have the chance to return to this wonderful universe. Talk about a door-stopper fantasy novel, To Green Angel Tower weighs in at 1083 pages. And that's the hardcover edition!!!

Okay, so that's it for now. . .:-) As I said, I'll tell you more about some of my other favourite series in the future. But if any of you were looking for something special to read, well you now have more than a few suggestions!!! Enjoy!!!;-)

I finished reading David B. Coe's The Outlanders last evening. That in itself is a testimony to just how good the novel was, considering that I wrote the review for Children of Amarid less than a week ago. But like its predecessor, this sequel was a wonderful read.

The second volume of the LonTobyn Chronicle, the novel begins 4 years following the events which took place in Children of Amarid. Once again, I don't want to include any spoilers, so I won't give anything away pertaining to the plot.

Just a reminder that this novel, along with the opening chapter of the trilogy, earned the author the William L. Crawforf Award, for best first fantasy series. And in light of the quality of these two very interesting novels, I would tend to agree that this award was more than deserved.

Once more, the characterizations are above and beyond what fans have come to expect in today's market. It would have been easy for Mr. Coe to simply continue with the same bunch of three-dimensional characters we were introduced to in Children of Amarid. In my opinion, this aspect of the book established the author as something special the first time around. Hence, I was quite surprised when I discovered that Coe elected to turn his back on most of those characters -- so to speak -- and let the readers explore the technological world of Lon-Ser through the eyes of Orris. His irritable attitude made him less likeable than Jaryd and the rest of the characters. So to some extent, this was a bit of a challenge for the author.

Needless to say, Mr. Coe pulled this off like a master. Not only do we get to learn more about Orris and appreciate him, but the author once again showed that he has a knack for characterizations that leave you wanting for more. Orris' character is well drawn, giving us a new perspective on him. Indeed, you see the mage in a different light compared to the image he projected in Children of Amarid. In addition, The Outlanders introduces us to another group of characters, and the story progresses through their different POVs. Which not only allows the readers to discover more about Lon-Ser and its history and political system, etc, but it also shows just how Coe's worldbuilding continues to be impressive. And the fact that he can even make you like the villains demonstrates just how good Coe is when it comes to creating engaging characters.

So it's through the eyes of Melyor, Jibb, Cedrych, Gwilym and many others that we learn more about this technological and violent world that is Lon-Ser. Also, discovering concepts such as technology and pollution through Orris' eyes is also quite interesting.

Again, the quality of the prose is far beyond what is currently the norm in the fantasy fiction field. Like its predecessor, The Outlanders is elegantly written.

I've snooped around on the internet, reading reviews of the book before writing my own. As I expected, most people truly enjoyed it. But most negative reviews were in regard of the political rift that continues to drive member of the Order apart. Many people claimed that the never-ending feud between Sonel's and Erland's factions within the Children of Amarid is unrealistic. I have to admit that I found that more than a little odd, but perhaps that has more to do with where I'm from and with the political system I am forced to live with. I'm a Canadian, which in and of itself means that I have to suffer a minority government that, in effect, cannot accomplish anything without the support of one or more parties that comprise the Chamber of Commons. Try to get anything done within the confines of that type of government, and you'll soon realize just how realistic the Order's problems can be. But not only that, I am also a resident of the province of Québec, where left-wing parties have held the reins of governing for years now. The problem is that this province needs a lot of changes at the moment, if we are to have a bright future. But the «old school» mentalities prevent our government from taking steps in the right direction. They are acutely aware that something must be done, but they show reticence at every turn and refuse to consider any alternative that goes againt what they have "built" in the last several decades. As a matter of course, they debate endlessly about this and that, refusing to acknowledge that something must be done, if we are to find solutions to our problems. For the last decade or so, they have been more than glad to re-arrange those problems, in the hope that perhaps they will go away. So in light of all this, I don't find the Order's political problems unrealistic at all. In fact, Erland is so much like many of our politicians that he antagonized me to no end!:-)

The pace of this second installment was a bit faster than in the previous book. There is more action and more surprises. More worldbuilding, giving us a glimpse of Coe's imagination. And if this is any indication, this writer has (hopefully) many more ideas and novels that will please us for years to come!

All in all, The Outlanders is the perfect sequel to Children of Amarid. And I will now eagerly read the last chapter of the trilogy, Eagle-Sage. Not since Robin Hobb's The Farseer series has the first two books of a trilogy showed so much promise. Let's just hope that the final volume delivers the sort of finale that will make the LonTobyn Chronicle a must-own series for any fantasy collection. . .

The final verdict: 9/10. As good a novel as I've read in quite a while. . .

Keeping my promise to do something about all those fantasy novels I have lying around on my shelves, following The Book of Words trilogy I decided to once again read something I've been meaning to pick up for quite a while now.

I bought the paperback edition of David B. Coe's Children of Amarid in 1998. Indeed, I picked it up at my local W. H. Smith the week it came out. It looked different, for some reason. Realizing that it was the opening chapter of a trilogy, I decided to wait before reading it. God knows I'm presently reading enough ongoing series that I didn't wish to add another one to the list. So wait I did. . .

In the spring of 2001, I brought the book with me to Italy. I figured that it would give me something to kill time in the plane and the bus. Alas, mesmerized by the splendors of Rome, Florence, Pisa, Lake Cuomo, Venice, Sorrento, Capri, and everything else Italy has to offer, I never made it to page 5. Maybe we could blame it on the wine. . .;-) Hence, I returned home 3 weeks later and put the book back on the shelf.

In the spring of 2002, this time I brought it with me to France. Again, I brought it with me for the same reasons. And once more, I'm afraid that fascinated by Paris, Versailles, the castles of the Loire Valley, Carcassone, Avignon, Montpellier, the fabulous French Riviera, Monaco, Chamonix and the breathtaking Alps, Mont St-Michel, and all that France has to offer, I never did open the book once. Again, maybe the wine had something to do with it. . .;-)

The novel was thus returned to that same shelf, unread, where it remained for nearly 3 years. Until last Sunday night, that is. Indeed, it was now high time for me to read the first volume of the LonTobyn Chronicle.And you want to know something? I'm sure glad I did!:-) Children of Amarid is the best debut novel I've read in years. Truth to tell, I don't remember how long it's been since I've read such a good debut novel. This great yarn appears to have been written by a seasoned author. To put it simply, I've enjoyed everything about it!

Fantasy awards generally don't mean anything, as far as I'm concerned. I'll soon be writing a post on this subject. . . But Coe has won the William L. Crawford Award, for best first fantasy series. And based on this first volume, it was more than deserved.

I have no wish to include some spoilers in this post, for I do not want to deprive anyone of the pleasure of reading this wonderful book.:-) Suffice to say that you should all buy it!;-) Having said that, however, there is still a lot I can tell you about.

To begin with, the characterizations are excellent. Coe has created a number of three-dimensional characters. Some endearing and engaging, others less so; but all of them "real."

This series is also much more mature in its writing style. Far from the juvenile style of J. V. Jones, I must say. Which makes this a book destined for adults. I'm not saying that a younger crowd will not enjoy it. Far from it. But if you're someone who's eagerly awaiting R. A. Salvatore's next book, with all those choregraphed battle scenes and little substance, then this is probably not for you. . . No offense to Mr. Salvatore, but this story is not for the same sort of fantasy fans.

Plus, Coe's worldbuilding is distinctive and more than a little impressive for someone's first novel. The imagery is arresting, showing that the author has a good eye for details. The magic system offers a new twist, with mages bound to animals and the use of crystals. The myths and legends of the land, of which we only get a little glimpse in this novel, make you want to discover more.

The pace of the book keeps you turning the pages, even if it's far from being a thriller. In addition, Coe's prose is well beyond what we have come to expect from most fantasy novels. Children of Amarid is elegantly written, making it a wonderful read.

The author also tackles a traditional fantasy theme: Sorcery vs Technology. We only see a little of this in the novel, but a lot more appears to be in store in the next installment.

All in all, a very, very good book. It leaves you wanting to read more about Jaryd, Alayna, Baden, Trahn, Orris, and the rest of the characters. It leaves you wanting to learn more about Theron, Phelan, and the rest of the Unsettled. It leaves you wanting to learn more about Sartol. In short, it leaves you with a strong desire to return to the land of Tobyn-Ser. And to discover what lies to the west, in the technological world of Lon-Ser.

The only negative thing I can mention about this book concerns what little we learn about Sartol and how he came into power. But I have a feeling that it is something that will be addressed in the next 2 volumes of the series.

I commend this one to your attention. Novels with so much promise are few and far between. It deserves 8.5/10.

Mr. Coe, you have earned my admiration.It may not seem like much, I know. But when you've read more than 1500 books, it's getting more and more difficult to get excited by a novel these days. Which is why Children of Amarid was such a pleasant surprise. Well written and refreshing, it was a totally satisfying read. And if The Outlanders and Eagle-Sage live up to expectations, I might become a fan for life! You seem to have a distinctive voice. . . A voice many fantasy readers will hopefully appreciate for many years to come.:-)

In light of all this praise, I believe that Children of Amarid is a great addition to any fantasy collection.

The Book of WordsBy J. V. JonesThe Baker's Boy (1995)A Man Betrayed (1996)Master and Fool (1996)Well, it's been quite a while since I've posted my thoughts on a particular novel or series. I used to be a regular on www.amazon.com and the now defunct AOL Newsgroups. Ah. . . The good old days!;-)

Can't quite believe that my first review on this blog pertains to a series which was released nearly a decade ago. I really must do something about all those books I have lying around. . .:-) Indeed, it shames me a little to say that I've had them since their release!

Okay, so if you were snooping around in the fantasy circles circa 1995, you are indubitably aware that this trilogy generated an enormous buzz. That in itself was surprising, since The Baker's Boy was Mrs. Jones' very first novel. In addition, it was published by Aspect (Warner Books), an imprint not particularly renowned for publishing bestsellers.

In any event, to a certain extent taking the market by storm, the series was an instant success. The three volumes were all national bestsellers, which is quite unusual. They all topped the Locus Bestseller List. Okay, so it's not the New York Times, but it is still quite an accomplishment for a new author.

Like a lot of people, I bought the books when they came out. Unlike many, I didn't read them yet. The hype was too strong, and I didn't want it to influence me when I read the series. Of course, I didn't really expect to wait nearly 9 years before reading them, either! For some reason, even though Mrs. Jones wrote 3 more novels since the publication of Master and Fool, she never did create waves the way The Book of Words trilogy initially did. Now was the time for me to see what the buzz had been about. . .

As is usually the case, the series did not live up to the expectations the buzz had created within me. Hence, I'm happy to have waited before reading the novels. Otherwise, I would probably have been VERY disappointed by this series. With the enormous number of books I've read over the years, I'm afraid that I have become definitely hard to please. . .

But although the trilogy suffers from several shortcomings, in all objectivity I must admit that it is still a relatively good read.

My main problem with the series is the fact that it appears to be aimed at a younger crowd. In my mind, it seems to be aimed at readers who are under 18. Being 30 (yes, I AM getting old!), I couldn't quite get into it. But I am persuaded that if I had read the series when I was 16 years of age, I would probably have loved it. There is a certain innocence inherent to the characters and their views of love, honor, obligation, etc, that makes the whole thing not ring true to my "adult" perspective.

The biggest shortcoming of the series, however, is the fact that the characters are far from being three-dimensional. As a matter of fact, they are not "real." The author fell into a popular trap, namely creating "cliché" characters: the innocent boy with immense potential, the beautiful and spoiled young woman who turns out to be stronger and more courageous than she believed herself to be, the evil mage, the power-hungry prince, etc. And some characters are just caricatures, case in point being the Archbishop Tavalisk. And yet, having said that about the characters, they are still a likeable bunch. Which, in the end, helps you enjoy the books.

Several plotlines had a lot of potential (the knights of Valdis, the Seers of Larn, Jake's parentage, etc), but they were not exploited to their fullest. Had they been, this series would have been much better. Mrs. Jones took the easy road instead. . .

In light of all this, I have to admit that I nevertheless like J. V. Jones' writing style. She has a witty way to write, which I truly enjoyed. I think that she must challenge herself a little more with her storylines, and explore a bit more those concepts that she creates. It would certainly give ner novels more depth, which in turn would make them more enjoyable.

I believe that J. V. Jones shows great promise and could be a bright voice in the fantasy genre. Hopefully her other novels will show just how much potential she truly possesses. . .:-)

In my mind, this series deserves 7/10.

Feel free to share your thoughts about this review. In essence, a review is always subjective, so I am conscious that many people might not agree with my assessment. But different books appeal to different people. . .:-)

Hi there!
I was thinking about something to write about for this first official post on the blog. And since I have very little time to spare these days, and thus could not really write about what novels I'm reading, or what novels I have read recently, nor could I start to elaborate on my favourite books and series, I've decided to tell you about a little way I found a few years back to sort of enhance my whole fantasy reading experience.

About 10 years ago, almost accidentally, I found a way to make reading a good novel an even better experience. I don't know about you, but all I need is a steaming cup of coffee, my favourite chair, and then I can just kick back and open my mind to this universe I'm reading about. That's what's so great about fantasy fiction: it allows you to escape your every day life and permits you to enter a new plane of existence. Hell, when you study Law, the last thing you want to read about is something by John Grisham! No offense to Grisham...;-)

No, the only thing that was missing was some sort of backdrop that could help me travel through that new universe, a backdrop that could somehow capture all the textures and emotions conveyed by the words of those pages. Something that would not intrude on the reading, nor take my mind away from the prose. Something that would just ease me on my way, and keep me firmly there once my mind had allowed me to travel to this new dimension.

And that backdrop proved to be movie soundtracks. For about a decade now, I can't sit down and enjoy a novel without a CD in the good old Denon stereo! Whether it's something by John Williams (the Master), James Horner, Hans Zimmer, or Howard Shore (saw him conduct the Lord of the Rings Symphony last year!), it adds a little something to the whole thing, which permits you to enjoy those books on another level.:-)

Understandably, we all have our favourites, so there's no use debating which ones are the best or the worst. Suffice to say that soundtracks have become an integral part of my reading experience, and if you haven't tried this before, I suggest you give it a shot. I am persuaded that you will not be disappointed.

What have I been listening to lately, you ask? Well, with more than 40 different soundtracks, I can allow myself some sort of rotation.:-) But some soundtracks find a way to return much more often than others. Anything composed by John Williams deserves to be in anyone's collection, I believe. No one has ever garnered more Oscar nominations, after all! The entire Star Wars saga is incredible, but my personal favourites remain A New Hope and The Return of the Jedi. E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the Indiana Jones trilogy, Saving Private Ryan, and the 3 Harry Potter sountracks are all scores that I love. Of course, Howard Shore's great work on The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King makes a wonderful backdrop for any fantasy reading experience. In addition, James Horner's fabulous scores of Braveheart and Titanic should not be overlooked. Nor should Hans Zimmer's Gladiator, which is simply incredible. As well as Zimmer's The Last Samurai, which is my favourite soundtrack of the last year or so.

There you have it!!! Hope this little suggestion helps you bring your whole fantasy reading experience to an entire new level!

Take care and be good,

Patrick

Quote of the Day: «History allows us to see the obvious. But alas, not until it is too late. . .»

Hi guys!
Well, as the title of this blog implies, I want to share my love of the fantasy genre with the rest of you!;-) God knows that there are a lot of us, with more and more people discovering the magic every year. Hell, I can remember when the Scifi/Fantasy section of a bookstore used to be a mere 4 by 4 thing. It was a sad state of affairs, let me tell ya!

I guess that I'll be playing it by ear... I'm open for suggestions, by the way. Feel free to share your thoughts with me.:-)

Since many people have recommended that I do so for several years now, I figure that this blog will be first and foremost a place where I'll post my thoughts on whatever novel or series I am presently reading. So I guess that I'll sort of become a critic... Who knows!?! Perhaps we can get enough word of mouth going to put someone's novel on the bestsellers' charts!

Also, I'll probably talk about my favourite series of all time and offer suggestions as to what to read, and what not to read...

Stay tuned! We'll have to wait and see... Meanwhile, take care and be good, all of you,